UK support for thousands fleeing unrest in Pakistan

12 May 2009

The UK has provided urgent humanitarian assistance to help the 1,000,000 people displaced by the fighting in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and North West Frontier Province (including the SWAT region) of Pakistan announced Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development (DFID).

The £10 million will help the work of humanitarian aid agencies who are working in the region most affected by recent fighting. The aid agencies will provide food, water and shelter to those most in need, as well as facilitating access to basic sanitation and healthcare.

Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander said:

"The UK is deeply concerned for the wellbeing of what estimates suggest could soon be over a million and a half people displaced by this conflict. A mass movement of people of this scale poses huge humanitarian challenges.

"The international community has an obligation to help the Pakistani government meet the urgent humanitarian needs of those most directly affected by the ongoing insecurity. The UK stands ready to assist the Government of Pakistan to combat the shared threat of violent extremism and we remain strongly committed to our partnership with the people of Pakistan."

DFID is providing £665 million of assistance to Pakistan from 2009 to 2013. By 2011, it will be the UK's second largest development programme worldwide. We are committing £250 million over five years to help put more children into school, improve teaching and provide the skills young people need to get jobs.